Chicago Marathon - RunMarathon

My training kinda lacked the final few weeks, so before the race started I threw away my goal time. Also, since this was my first, I just wanted to take it all in and finish with a smile.
I was in corrall H (wanted to run 4 hour) so I went to the back of the corrall. I saw the 4:15 pacer and figured I would try to stay with them as long as possible. Heart rate about to explode from the excitement. Had on some arm warmers (old baseball socks with the toes cut out) to keep arms warm.
I was hanging pretty good with the 4:15 group then my mistake of eating spicy food Saturday started to rear its ugly head. Past the first porta potties cause the lines were HUGE, but had to stop at the second group. Got out and still felt pretty good. Probably drinking too much cause I had to make 2 more bathroom stops before the halfway point. I had lost the pacers by this poing, so I just ran by feel.
I hit every water stop along the way and took some gatorade. Took a GU at mile 7 and was still feeling really good, but I didn't want to push the pace that early so still running by feel.
Got the the half, and was running really consistant splits without a pacer at all and just running by feel. Took another GU at mile 14 and another potty break in the charity block party.
The whole course had sooooo many spectators that it was just an amazing feeling. I think I gave hi 5's to about 300 kids along the way. AWESOME experience.
Still hit every water station along the way and finally got my hydration in check. Took another GU at mile 21 and was feeling fantastic.
About mile 22, my ankles were starting to get sore and my quads were starting to hurt, but I knew I only had 4 miles to go so I pushed through it.
I almost fell over when I saw 2 Asian runners (probably didn't speak any English) take some beer from a spectator and spit it out. I think they thought it was water but I thought it was pretty funny.
Made the turn onto Michigan Ave, and knew I was in the home stretch. Still feeling pretty good, I picked it up a bit, but just a little too early. Had to walk about a half mile to get a get my heart rate back under control. Got back on my pace, then made the turn onto Roosevelt (this is where I finally saw my wife for the first time and put the hammer down).
Ran as hard as I could go up Roosevelt and down Congress to the finish line.
This was an amazing experience and I can't wait to do it again next year.

Not a whole lot. Ran almost the entire way, and finished with a smile. Remember next year not to eat spicy food the day before. Probably cost me 15 minutes waiting to get into bathrooms.

Crossed the line, and walked what felt like another 5 miles through the finish area. Got my medal, got the solar blanket, got a Gatorade and a couple bags of chips and a banana. Then got the most WONDERFUL tasting beer ever. (really wasn't drinking all summer because of Tri and Marathon training) so it tasted AWESOME. Got my gear, then met my wife. Sat down and stretched for a few minutes. I put my feet up and let the blood flow back down to the rest of my body. Walked to the EL then caught the train back north. Met some friends for dinner, then drove home.


Lack of training at the beginning. Since this is my first real year of endurance sports, I'm definately going to start adding some speed work and some interval training in to try to get faster and I will also just run more.


Chicago puts on an AWESOME race and I can't wait till next year. Getting close to 40,000 racers across the finish line is great. A small city moved 26.2 miles on Sunday and I was overwhelmed to be part of it.